Folding umbrella



' (No Model.) F. G. GROVE.

, I FOLDING UMBRELLA. u N 1,957. Patented Dem-24, 1895.

IN VE N 70/? A I W/TNESS1 ES: 1; I 42M Fldii/Z 6?. G/w/a.

BY fi'm ATTORNEYS.

{NORM B GRAHAM. PHOTO-LUNG WASHINGTONJ) C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. GROVE, OF LURAY, VIRGINIA.

. FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,957, dated December24, 1895.

Application filed December 13, 1894:. fierial No. 531,700. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. GROVE, residing at Luray, in the county ofPage and State of Virginia, have invented a new and Improved FoldingUmbrella, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in that class of folding or collapsibleumbrellas which are provided with ribs made in sections adapted to slideon each other.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts ashereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of an umbrella constructed inaccordance with my invention, the same being shown extended. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective view of one of the rib-joints. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of the lifting sleeve or runner and the locking devicehereinafter referred to. Fig. 4 is a view, partly in elevation andpartly in section, showing the relation of the several parts when in afolded position. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of my improved umbrella,the parts being in a folded position, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailview of the joint 7L.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the upper ring orcollar, which in the construction shown has the usual rib-holdingannular notchrim b and cover-clamp portion I), an inwardly-extendingflange b and an outwardly-extending portion 12 the inner flange 19forming a seat for the upper end of the staff member B,which member B,it should be stated, is formed preferably of a tubular body havinginternal threads b at the upper end, into which is adapted to fit thethreaded shank c of the tip or member 0, which shank passes looselythrough the collar A, as shown.

The object in detachably connecting the upper stick-section to the tip 0is to permit the ribs to fold more closely together (without strainingor bending them) than could possibly be done were the said end of thestick and tip or end 0 made integral. This will be clearly apparent fromFig. 4. of the drawings,

in which the upper section B is shown detached and drawn back and theribs folded up close, such section being, however, shown to its joinedposition in dotted lines, the position of the ribs when folded againstthe said section being also indicated in dotted lines to the moreclearly illustrate the advantage of having the stick member B madedetachable.

The ribs, which are preferably of the wellknown paragon shape, are madein sections slidable on each other, the inner sections E being securedto the rim b in the usual manner, while the outer sections E areconnected to the cover. The sections E and E are joined in the mannermost clearly shown in Fig. 3, by reference to which it will be seen thelower section E terminates in a cuff-like portion 6 formed with ears 6,to which the outer ends of the stretchers F are pivoted. The section Epasses through the cuff memberand terminates in a cuff portion c whichslides on the outer section, such inner sections E having spring membersE which serve to increase the frictional resistance and hold the twoparts locked together and prevent a tendency of their parts to slidetogether when such action is not desired.

The stretchers F are secured at their inner ends to the sliding runnerG, which has at the upper end a fixed annular notched rim g, to whichthe said stretchers are secured in the usual manner.

By referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen the runner G has a number ofslots 9 instead of one, as is usual, so that when the umbrella is closedsuch runner will readily slip into locked engagement with a detent h onthe lower or handle member H of the staff, which member it should bestated is detachably connected with the upper section of the staff bythe threaded connection h, as shown in Fig. 0. It will also be observedby reference to Fig.

3 that the lower edge of the runner G has a- IOO f the ribs at thecenter by the cap-piece Z) and to the inner end of the outer rib-sectionE, also to outer end of outer strip F.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with'the drawings,it will be seen that when the umbrella is extended, as shown in Fig. 1,the springs on the connecting portion of the slides will hold therib-sections to their extended position. To fold the umbrella, therunner G is first released from detent and then lowered 0n the staff.ure is then applied to each of the ribs inward, which will cause theouter sections to slide inward until their inner ends abut the collar A.The tip or member C is then disconnected from the upper staff-section,and such staffsection pulled back to the position shown in full lines inFig. 4 to allow the contracted rib members to fold up closely. The outeror handle portion of the staff is then disconnected, and the frame withthe cover (which owing to its peculiar connection with the frame laps asshown) is shut compactly and strapped or tied together or inserted intoa suitable bag, as shown in Fig. 5.

To adjust the umbrella ready for use, the

upper section.

Presshandle member of the staff is screwed into the upper section andthe foot-piece joined to such The runner G is then pulled down on thestaff its full limit, which movement draws the ribs out to theirextended position, after which the runner is raised and the umbrellaopened as usual.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

As an improvement in collapsible umbrellas, the combination, with thestaff, having a serewsocket in its head end, and a collar fixed in atubular shank, of the shouldered and threaded tip, and ribs composed ofsections one of which is adapted to slide on the other, the lowerslidable sections having interior projections, or lugs, on their innerends, which, when the tip is screwed out and the umbrella is collapsed,are accommodated in in the space between the staff and the shank of thecollar, as shown and described.

FRANK G. GROVE.

*itnesses:

FRANK O. OBERLY, BRAMHALL CAMPBELL.

